Heated substance reservoir baffle

ABSTRACT

A heated water reservoir for use as a heated water dispenser, in conjunction with a beverage dispenser or for other uses. The heated water reservoir ( 5 ) includes a baffle ( 20 ) which communicates with an outlet port ( 7 ) positioned along the reservoir and an upper portion of the reservoir. In the reservoir a quantity of water is retained in a heated condition with an upper portion of the reservoir containing generally heated water of a higher temperature. An upper edge ( 35 ) of the baffle is positioned relative to the upper portion of the heated water reservoir such that passage of water from the reservoir into a cavity ( 22 ) defined, at least in part, by the baffle facilitates flow of water over the upper edge and into the outlet port. In this manner, water having a higher temperature is dispensed from the reservoir.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. Nationalization of PCT Application No.PCT/US03/22277, filed Feb. 14, 2003, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application 60/395,939 filed Jul. 15, 2002. The priorapplications are expressly incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a heated substance reservoir having abaffle and method for delivering heated substance from such a reservoir.

The disclosure relates to a tank or reservoir for dispensing any liquidthat one might desire to be heated and dispensed including but notlimited to water, coffee, soup, or tea. In this disclosure, “substance”is intended to include such heated liquids for dispensing. For purposesof simplicity in this disclosure the “substance” will be referred to aswater.

Generally, heated water dispensers operate by providing an inlet tubethrough which a water travels into a lower portion of a tank. A heatingelement is placed near the inlet tube and to heat the substance as thewater comes into contact with the heating element. As the water isheated by the heating element, the heated water rises such that thehottest water is found generally in a top portion of the tank. The wateris dispensed through an outlet generally located in an area from the topto the middle of the tank.

Water may be forced out of the outlet by the head pressure of the volumeof water at a level above the height at which the outlet is located.Alternatively, incoming water pressure may pressurize the tank to adegree causing water to flow out of the outlet. One of the shortcomingsof a tank, in which water is dispensed in the middle, is that thehottest water rises to the top of the tank, but it is the water in themiddle portion of the tank that is dispensed first. The temperature ofsuch “middle water” may be less predictable than the temperature of thesubstance at the top. The result with such tanks is that water may bedispensed at a less than optimal temperature, while leaving acceptabletemperate water in the top of the tank.

This disclosure solves this and other problems by providing a baffleinside the tank for directing the heated water generally near the toparea of the tank over a baffle to an outlet located generally spacedfrom the top portion of the tank, such as in the middle portion of thetank. As unheated water enters through the inlet and becomes heated, theheated water rises to the top portion and flows over a top edge of thebaffle into a cavity connected or otherwise communicating with to theoutlet.

Briefly, and in accordance with the foregoing, disclosed is a baffle foruse in a heated substance reservoir or tank. The baffle defines a cavitywhich may be divided into one or more chambers for capturing, directingor channeling heated water as heated water flows over the edge of thebaffle. This heated water, which rises to the top portion of the tank,is then dispensed first when an outlet positioned generally at themiddle of the surface of the wall of the tank is opened.

Further, disclosed is one or more partitions or walls for dividing thecavity defined by the baffle and the wall of the tank into multiplechambers. These partitions or walls allow the tank to be fitted withmultiple outlets in a staggered configuration which reduces the amountof space the outlets together are required to occupy on the surface ofthe tank. Such staggering may be useful in overcoming the problem offitting the outlets in an area of limited space.

Additional features will become apparent to those skilled in the artupon consideration of the following detailed description of drawingsillustrating of at least one embodiment of the disclosure. Additionalfeatures will become apparent to those skilled in the art uponconsideration of the following detailed description of drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figuresin which:

FIG. 1A is a simplified diagrammatic view of a heater reservoir as usedin a beverage preparation device;

FIG. 1B is a simplified diagrammatic view of a heated reservoir incombination with a beverage brewing device in which the reservoirprovides water to a brewing funnel;

FIG. 1C is a simplified diagrammatic view of a heater water reservoirsimilar to those as shown in 1A and 1B and in which the heated waterreservoir is not coupled to a beverage or food preparation apparatus butin which the heated water reservoir is used to dispense heated waterthrough a dispensing faucet communicating with the outlet port of thereservoir;

FIG. 2 is a simplified diagrammatic view of a heated water reservoir;

FIG. 3 is a simplified diagrammatic cross-sectional view thereof takenalong line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a simplified diagrammatic cross-sectional view taken alongline 4-4 in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are two additional embodiments of the reservoir showingthe baffle from a top view similar to that as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a simplified diagrammatic view of another embodiment of theheated reservoir;

FIG. 8 is a front view of the heated reservoir with interior componentsshown in broken line; and

FIG. 9 is a simplified diagrammatic side cross-sectional view of aheated reservoir connected to a controller.

FIG. 10 is a simplified diagrammatic side cross-sectional view of aheated reservoir connected to a controller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the present disclosure may be susceptible to embodiment indifferent forms, there is shown in the drawings, and herein will bedescribed in detail, embodiments with the understanding that the presentdescription is to be considered an exemplification of the principles ofthe disclosure and is not intended to limit the disclosure to thedetails of construction and the arrangements of components set forth inthe following description or illustrated in the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1A, a beverage producing apparatus 11A includes areservoir 5A which is used for heating water retained therein. Theapparatus 11A includes a concentrate source 13 which has a dispensingline 15 communicating with a dispenser control 17 to dispenseconcentrate into a path 19 through which heated water is dispensed fromthe reservoir 5A. Concentrate and water are combined and dispensedthrough a nozzle 21 into a container or cup 23 positioned relative tothe nozzle 21. The beverage producing apparatus 11A can be activated bya control switch 65 a which coupled to the controller 50A. Also includedon the beverage producing apparatus 11A is a level sensor 56A, an outletcontrol valve 54A and an inlet control valve 52A all of these componentsbeing connected to the controller 50A. Further description of thesecomponents is provided herein in greater detail. Also provided on thebeverage producing apparatus 11A is a heater 12A which is also describedin greater detail herein below.

The definition of the beverage preparation device 11A should be broadlyinterpreted to include any device in addition to that asdiagrammatically shown which might use heated water to produce abeverage. Terms including brewed, brewing, brewing substance, brewingliquid and brewed beverage as used herein are intended to be broadlydefined as including but not limited to the brewing of coffee, tea andany other brewed beverage. This broad interpretation is also intended toinclude, but is not limited to any process of infusing, steeping,reconstituting, diluting, dissolving, saturating, or passing a liquidthrough or otherwise mixing or combining a beverage substance such aswater without limitation to the temperature of such liquid unlessspecified. This broad interpretation is also intended to include, but isnot limited to beverage substances such as ground coffee, tea, liquidbeverage concentrate, powdered beverage concentrate, freeze dried coffeeor other beverage concentrates, other food substances such as soups orfood dishes, to obtain a desired beverage or food.

A beverage brewer 11B as shown in FIG. 1B in which the reservoir 5Bdispenses water through an outlet tube 9B to a sprayhead 41. Thesprayhead 41 is positioned above a brewing funnel 49 of knownconstruction for dispensing into a container or carafe 23B of knownconstruction. While the beverage brewing apparatus 11B shown herein isshown in diagrammatic form, it is envisioned that other forms of brewingapparatus in which brewing water is dispensed from the reservoir 5B tobrewing substance 51 retained in a filter 70 positioned in the funnel49. The beverage producing apparatus 11B can be activated by a controlswitch 65B which is coupled to the controller 50B. Also provided on thebeverage producing apparatus is a warming or heating element 69B, anoutlet control valve 54B, an inlet control valve 52B and a level sensor56B. All of these components are described in greater detail herein andare coupled to the controller 50B. Also provided is a heater 12B which,as described below, provides heat to the reservoir 5B. The heater 12B iscoupled to the controller 50B.

FIG. 1C is a simplified diagrammatic view of a heated water reservoir 5Csimilar to that as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Heated water reservoir 5Cis designed to stand alone, in other words to provide heated water in avariety of ways such as producing beverages, heated foods or other usesfor heated water. The reservoir 5C includes a baffle 20C communicatingwith the water in the reservoir 5C described herein above. The reservoir5C includes a dispensing faucet 53 communicating with the outlet port 7and corresponding tube 9. The dispensing faucet 53 provides controllabledispensing of heated water from the reservoir 5C using the teachings ofthe baffle as described throughout this specification.

Also reservoir 5C as shown in FIG. 1C includes an inlet port 10C′positioned in the lower portion 37 of the reservoir as well as an inletport 10C′ positioned in the upper portion 18 of the reservoir. In thisregard, the inlet port 10C′ may be used in combination with the inletport 10C′ or as a substitute for the inlet port 10C′. The upper inletport is of the type referred to as a pour-in inlet port or pour-inbasin. Such inlet port may also include a basin 55 and a tube 57. Thedimension of the basin 55 and tube 57 are not shown to scale and areprovided for purposes of description and illustration of additionalembodiments herein. The basin 55 can be sized and dimensioned to hold aquantity of water for dispensing through the dispensing tube 57. Thedispensing tube 57 is provided to place the unheated water pouredthrough the inlet port 10C′ into the basin 55 and thereby transporteddownwardly towards the lower portion 37 of the reservoir 5C so that itcan be heated by the heating element 12. This helps to reduce the heattransfer of the unheated water poured into the basin 55 therebyreserving the heated water in the upper portion 18 for dispensingthrough the baffle 20C.

With reference to the figures, FIG. 2 generally shows and describes asimplified diagrammatic view of a heated water reservoir 5. The heatedwater reservoir 5, hereinafter referred to simply as the reservoir 5, isused to store, heat, and then dispense heated substance such as water.The reservoir 5 has a housing 59 defined by at least one wall. Thehousing 59 may be constructed from any suitable material for storingliquid including but not limited to metal, plastic, ceramic and glass.The housing 59 of reservoir 5 may also be constructed of or with atemperature insulating material such as a double walled metal, plastic,ceramic or glass container or any such container which has or furtherincludes insulating material. One or more outlet ports 7 are located onthe reservoir 5 shown in the illustrations as being located on the frontportion 8 of the reservoir 8. Dispensing tubes 9 deliver water from theports 7. The ports 7 are shown as openings in a front portion or wall 8of the reservoir with the tubes 9 extending therefrom. Such connectionmay be in the form of a direct connection by which the tubes 9 aredirectly connected to the wall 8 or in which port fixtures are attachedto the wall 8 and the tubes are attached to the port fixtures.

With reference to FIG. 3 in cross-section, water is directed into alower portion 37 of the reservoir 5 via an inlet line 10. Water directedis delivered near a heating element 12. As the water is heated, thewater rises on convection currents toward an upper or top portion 18 ofthe reservoir 5. Generally, the hottest water is found in the topportion 18 of this volume of water in the reservoir.

A baffle 20 is provided inside the reservoir 5 to direct water from theupper portion 18 of the reservoir towards an outlet port 7. The baffle20 includes at least one wall 25 having an upper edge 35. The wall 25 isattached to an internal surface 27 of the reservoir 5. While the wall 25of the baffle 20 is shown as being attached to the corresponding portion29 of the reservoir 5, it is envisioned that a variety of ways ofattaching the baffle 20 are included within the scope of thisdisclosure. For example, the baffle structure 20 can be attached bymeans of welding, adhesives, fastening such as by way of bolts, as wellas directly forming the baffle into a surface of the reservoir such asby plastic molding. Generally, a cavity 22 is defined between the wall25 and a corresponding inside surface 27 of a wall of the reservoir 5. Abottom 31 is shown on the baffle 20 illustrated in FIG. 3.

While the baffle 20 is shown in an embodiment in which the water isdirected from the upper portion 18 of the reservoir 5 to a port 7generally spaced in a middle portion 39 of the reservoir 5, it isenvisioned that the ports could be located at any position along thereservoir 5 even towards the upper portion 18 as well as a lower portion37. The location of the ports 7 generally in the middle portion 39 asshown for purposes of illustrating an embodiment of the disclosure.Ports 7 located in the upper portion 18 will also benefit from a baffle20 to help direct the flow of the water in the upper portion 18 into thebaffle and reduce, eliminate or otherwise prevent and/or control thedispensing of heated water in the upper portion 18 into the port 7.

FIGS. 5-9 show other embodiments of the baffle 20 including individualsub-divided chambers (FIG. 5), individually spaced apart baffles andchambers (FIG. 6), and one or more tubes defining the baffle and chamber(FIG. 8).

In use, all the different embodiments of the baffle 20 normally functionin substantially the same general manner. For example, as the water isdispensed from the reservoir 5 through the tube 9, the hottest water inthe upper portion 18 of the reservoir 5 generally flows over the topedge 35 of the baffle 20. The heated substance travels through thecavity 22 downwardly towards the outlet port 7 for dispensing throughthe tube 9. Multiple tubes 9 and multiple baffles 20 are shown forillustrative purposes, one or more such tubes may be used.

An example of a use of the reservoir 5 is in a brewing apparatus ofgenerally known construction. When brewing cycle is started, one of theoutlet tubes 9 is opened and the inlet line 10 is opened. As a result,water flows into the reservoir 5 generally simultaneously to refill thevolume of water flowing out. In this example, water flows into thereservoir 5, is heated to a desired temperature, and dispensed to aspray head (see FIG. 1B, spray head 41) or for mixing with a concentrate13 such as is shown in FIG. 1A. The mechanism described herein providesoptimally heated water for these applications.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of the reservoir 5. In this embodiment, thebaffle 20 includes the wall 25 creating a shared cavity 22 out of whichsubstance is directed to the outlet tubes 9. FIG. 5 shows anotherembodiment of the baffle 20D. In this embodiment, the baffle 20Dincludes a back wall 28, two exterior side walls 26 and two interiorwalls 24 which further divide the cavity 22D into a number of separatedchambers 30. Water flowing over the top edge 35D of the walls 28, 26, 24can be dispensed from one outlet tube 9 while storing heated water inthe other non-dispensing chambers 30. Although FIG. 5 shows threechambers 30, any number of chambers 30 may be utilized depending on thedesired number of outlet tubes 9. For each additional chamber 30, oneadditional interior wall 24 would be provided. Although this embodimentshows chambers 30 having square or rectangular cross-sections, thesechambers 30 may be curved, triangular, square, or any other shape as maybe needed or desired for a particular application.

In general, the volume of each chamber 30 can be sized and dimensionedto be compatible with the outlet tube 9. For example, if a chamber 30 istoo small, the supply of water in that chamber 30 will be insufficientto dispense a desired amount of water from the outlet tube 9 resultingin a mismatched flow creating a “choked-off” effect.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment in which the chambers 33 do not share aninterior wall 28 with neighboring chambers 30. Instead, each chamber 33is defined by its own back wall 28E and exterior walls 26E. Thisembodiment may be advantageous where the volume of substance to beretained in the chamber 33 is desired to be as small as possible. Inthis manner, a minimal amount of substance has time to cool before beingdispensed.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment in which the baffle 20F is tube-shaped.As in the previous embodiment, heated water rises inside the reservoir5F and flows over the top edge 35F of the baffle 20F before it isdirected to the dispensing tube 9. Positioning a tube shaped baffle 20Fin this manner provides an even smaller volume of substance being storedin the cavity 38 defined by the baffle 20F tube wall 40 than in theindividual chambers 33 of the previous embodiment providing for eventighter temperature control.

FIG. 8 shows a front view of another embodiment of the reservoir 5G withthe interior components contained within the reservoir 5G walls shown inbroken line. In this embodiment, the outlet tubes 45, 46, 47 arepositioned in a staggered arrangement with the two end outlets tubes 45,47 positioned higher than a central outlet tube 46. The exterior walls26G extend downwardly to below the outlet tubes 45, 47 to bottomportions 42, 43. The interior walls 24G extend downwardly to just belowthe center outlet tube 44 to a bottom portion 44. This arrangementallows the outlet tubes 45, 46, 47 to be in closer proximity to occupy aminimal surface area on the front of the reservoir 5 d while stillproviding for an optimal temperature for the substance. Although a 2-1configuration is shown in this embodiment, other arrangements of theoutlets tubes 45, 46, 47 may be used. Also, although three outlet tubes45, 46, 47 are shown, a reservoir 5 may be fitted with more or lessoutlet tubes depending on the application. The quantity of outlet tubesand arrangement shown herein are not intended to limit other variations.

As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, to control the flow of water into thereservoir 5H, a controller 50 may be used to open and close a valve 52positioned along the inlet tube 10. The valve 52 is operated by thecontroller 50 to allow water to flow therethrough during a predefinedperiod based on a known flow rate to allow a desired volume of waterinto the reservoir 5H. When a sufficient volume of water has beendirected into the reservoir 5H, and a desired volume fills the cavity22H, the controller 50 controllably operates a valve 54 position alongthe outlet tube 9 to open to allow dispensing therefrom, whichdispensing is controlled by faucet 53. Because the volume of substanceentering the reservoir 5 e will displace an equivalent volume already inthe reservoir 5H, the exact quantity of optimally heated substanceavailable to be dispensed is controlled by the controller 50 operatingthe valve 52.

A level sensor 56 generally known in the art and of known construction,may be coupled to the reservoir 5H such as at the top 58 as shown inFIG. 9. The level sensor 56 detects at least one level of substance inthe reservoir 5 e and communicates with the controller 50 to operate thevalves 52, 54 to control the volume of substance inside the reservoir 5Hand dispensing through the tube 9.

While embodiments of the disclosure are shown and described, it isenvisioned that those skilled in the art may devise variousmodifications, combinations, partial combinations, and equivalentswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure arerecited in the claims.

I claim:
 1. In a beverage preparation apparatus using heated water forproducing a beverage reservoir, a reservoir for containing anddispensing heated water comprising: a housing defining a chambertherein; a water heater associated with the housing and located in alower portion of the chamber for heating the water in the chamber; atleast one inlet port communicating with the chamber for introducingwater into the lower portion of the chamber near the water heater; atleast one baffle structure positioned inside the chamber against oneinside surface of the chamber, the at least one baffle structure havinga continuous wall and a bottom structure, without holes therethrough, atleast partially defining a cavity with the inside surface of thechamber, the cavity communicating with the chamber; at least one outletport extending through the housing proximate to and communicatingdirectly with the lower portion of the cavity defined by the bafflestructure for dispensing water flowing from the chamber to the cavityunder force of gravity; and an upper edge of the wall defining a mouthproviding the only access through which water is received from thechamber into the cavity for dispensing through the outlet port underforce of gravity, wherein water must pass from the chamber through themouth to flow to the cavity for dispensing from the outlet port directlythrough the wall of the housing proximate the lower portion of thecavity.
 2. The beverage preparation apparatus using heated water forproducing a beverage reservoir as in claim 1, further comprising: a tubeextending from the outlet port; a receiver for receiving heated waterfrom the tube and for receiving a beverage substance for mixing with theheated water for producing a beverage therefrom.
 3. The beveragepreparation apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: the receiver beinga brewing funnel for receiving a quantity of beverage brewing substancetherein, the tube delivering heated water for infusing the beveragebrewing substance for producing a brewed beverage.
 4. The beveragepreparation apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: the receiver beinga mixing chamber for receiving a quantity of beverage brewing substancetherein, a beverage substance dispenser for dispensing a beveragesubstance to the mixing chamber for mixing the beverage substance withheated water in the mixing chamber for producing a beverage.
 5. Thebeverage preparation apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: an inletcontrol device communicating with the inlet line for controlling theintroduction of water to the reservoir.
 6. The beverage preparationapparatus of claim 5, further comprising: a controller; the inletcontrol device being a controllable valve coupled to the inlet line andcoupled with the controller for controllably operating the inlet controlvalve to controllably introduce water to the reservoir.
 7. The beveragepreparation apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: an outlet controldevice communicating with the outlet line for controlling the dispensingof water to the reservoir.
 8. The beverage preparation apparatus ofclaim 7, further comprising: a controller; the outlet control devicebeing a controllable valve coupled to the outlet line and coupled withthe controller for controllably operating the outlet control valve tocontrollably dispense water from the reservoir.
 9. A beveragepreparation apparatus using heated water for producing a beverage, thebeverage preparation apparatus comprising: a reservoir for receiving,containing and heating water; a housing of the reservoir defining achamber therein; a controller for controlling operation of the beveragepreparation apparatus; a water heater associated with the housing andlocated in a lower portion of the chamber for heating the water in thechamber, the water heater being coupled to the controller; at least oneinlet port communicating with the chamber for introducing water into thelower portion of the chamber near the water heater; an inlet controldevice communicating with the inlet port and coupled to the controllerfor controlling the introduction of water to the reservoir; at least onebaffle structure positioned inside the chamber against one insidesurface of the chamber, the at least one baffle structure having acontinuous wall and bottom structure, without any holes therethrough, atleast partially defining a cavity with the inside surface of thechamber; at least one outlet port extending through the housingproximate to and communicating directly with the lower portion of thecavity defined by the baffle structure for dispensing water flowing fromthe chamber to the cavity under force of gravity; an outlet controldevice communicating with the inlet line and coupled to the controllerfor controlling the dispensing of water from the reservoir; a tubeextending from the outlet port; an upper edge of the wall defining amouth providing the only access through which water is received from thechamber into the cavity for dispensing through the outlet port underforce of gravity, wherein water must pass from the chamber through themouth to flow to the cavity for dispensing from the outlet port directlythrough the wall of the housing proximate the lower portion of thecavity; and a receiver for receiving heated water from the tube and forreceiving a beverage substance for mixing with the heated water forproducing a beverage there from.
 10. The beverage preparation apparatusof claim 9, further comprising: the receiver being a brewing funnel forreceiving a quantity of beverage brewing substance therein, the tubedelivering heated water for infusing the beverage brewing substance forproducing a brewed beverage.
 11. The beverage preparation apparatus ofclaim 9, further comprising: the receiver being a mixing chamber forreceiving a quantity of beverage brewing substance therein, a beveragesubstance dispenser for dispensing a beverage substance to the mixingchamber for mixing the beverage substance with heated water in themixing chamber for producing a beverage.
 12. The beverage preparationapparatus of claim 9, further comprising: the inlet control device beinga controllable valve coupled to the inlet line and coupled with thecontroller for controllably operating the inlet control valve tocontrollably introduce water to the reservoir.
 13. The beveragepreparation apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: the outlet controldevice being a controllable valve coupled to the outlet line and coupledwith the controller for controllably operating the outlet control valveto controllably dispense water from the reservoir.
 14. The reservoir ofclaim 9 further comprising the wall of the baffle defining a generallytubular structure communicating with the chamber and with onecorresponding outlet port.
 15. The reservoir of claim 9 furthercomprising at least one inlet port being positioned in a lower portionof the reservoir.
 16. The reservoir of claim 9 further comprising atleast one inlet port being positioned in an upper portion of thereservoir.
 17. The reservoir of claim 9 the heating means furthercomprising a heating element retained in the reservoir for heating waterdisposed therein.
 18. The reservoir of claim 9 further comprising adispensing faucet communicating with the outlet port.
 19. A heated waterdispensing apparatus comprising: a reservoir for receiving, containingand heating water; a housing of the reservoir defining a chambertherein; a controller for controlling operation of the heated waterdispensing apparatus; a water heater associated with the housing andlocated in a lower portion of the chamber for heating the water in thechamber, the water heater being coupled to the controller; at least oneinlet port communicating with the chamber for introducing water via aninlet line into the lower portion of the chamber near the water heater;an inlet control device communicating with the inlet line and coupled tothe controller for controlling the introduction of water to thereservoir; at least one baffle structure positioned inside the chamberagainst one inside surface of the chamber, the baffle structure having acontinuous wall and bottom structure, without any holes therethrough, atleast partially defining a cavity with the inside surface of the chamberat least one outlet port extending through the housing proximate to andcommunicating directly with the lower portion of the cavity defined bythe baffle structure for dispensing water flowing from the chamber tothe cavity, the at least one outlet port dispensing water from thechamber to the cavity under force of gravity; an upper edge of the walldefining a mouth providing the only access through which water isreceived from the chamber into the cavity for dispensing through the atleast one outlet port under force of gravity, wherein water must passfrom the chamber through the mouth to flow to the cavity for dispensingfrom the at least one outlet port directly through the wall of thehousing proximate the lower portion of the cavity; an outlet controldevice communicating with the inlet line and coupled to the controllerfor controlling the dispensing of water from the reservoir; and acontrollable dispensing faucet communicating with the outlet port forcontrollably dispensing heated water from the apparatus.
 20. Thebeverage preparation apparatus of claim 19, further comprising: theinlet control device being a controllable valve coupled to the inletline and coupled with the controller for controllably operating theinlet control valve to controllably introduce water to the reservoir.21. The beverage preparation apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:the outlet control device being a controllable valve coupled to theoutlet line and coupled with the controller for controllably operatingthe outlet control valve to controllably dispense water from thereservoir.
 22. The reservoir of claim 19 further comprising the wall ofthe baffle defining a generally tubular structure communicating with thechamber and with at least one outlet port.
 23. The reservoir of claim 19further comprising at least one inlet port being positioned in a lowerportion of the reservoir.
 24. The reservoir of claim 19 furthercomprising at least one inlet port being positioned in an upper portionof the reservoir.
 25. The reservoir of claim 19 the heating meansfurther comprising a heating element retained in the reservoir forheating water disposed therein.